Weft-detecting mechanism



A 3; HUTCHINS.- WEFT DETECTING MECHANISM.

APPUCATION FILED AUG.4, 1919. I v 1,349,314 1]. Patented Au 10, 192%.

2 SHEETS-SHEET UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALLAN S. HUTCHINS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGN'OR T O CROMPTON &

KNOWLES LOOM WORKS, 015 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF.

MASSACHUSETTS.

WEFT-DETECTING MECHANISM.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 10, 1920.-

Application filed August 4, 1919. Serial No. 315,153.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLAN S. TTUTOI-IINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of l Vorcesterand State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulleft-Detecting Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a weft detecting mechanism for use in an automatic weft replenishing loom.

The invention further relates more particularly to the double-point type of detecting mechanism, in which a relatively fixed detector and a relatively movable detector are mounted on the same slide or support, and in which indication of weft exhaustion occurs whenever relative movement is permitted between the movable detector and the fixed detector.

It is one object of my invention to improve and simplify the construction of the movable detector, at the same time providing a wide range of adjustment, and a sinr ple method of making such adjustment, preferably without the use of tools.

In the preferred form, I provide a rotatable detector having a plurality of weftengaging faces positioned at different radial distances from the axis of the detector, together with means for rendering any selected face of the detector operative to indicate weft exhaustion.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particu larly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of my invention is shown in the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my im proved detector;

F ig. 2 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial plan view of a portion of the detector slide with the fixed and movable detectors mounted thereon;

Fig. 4: is a sectional elevation taken along the line 44 in Fig 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view ofethe slide and de tector, together with certain associated parts, and

Figs. 6 and 7 are views similar to Fig. 5

but showing the parts in difi'erent positions.

Referring to the drawings, 1 have shown my improved detecting mechanism in the form of a slide 10 having a fixed detector 11 secured thereto or preferably formed integrally therewith. A movable detector 12 ispivoted to the slidelO and is provided with a plurality of weft-engaging faces 13 formed at different radial distances from the axis of the detector12. Each face is preferably provided with teeth as indicated in the drawings, and these teeth are preferably formed so that all of the teeth in each face are at the same radial distance from the axis of the'detector. This latter feature provides uniform contact with the weft carrier as the detector turns about its axis to indicate weft exhaustion.

The detector 12 may be rotatably mounted on the slide 10 in any convenient manner,

and is shown herein as rotatable about a bushing 14 ig. 1) set into a recess in the detector 12 and secured to the slide 10 by a screw 15.

The slide 10 is slotted at 16 and is slidingly secured to a bracket 17 by screws 18 extending through the slot 16. The bracket 17 is fitted to a stand 19 rigidly connected to the loom frame 20. A yielding connection is preferably provided between the bracket 17 and the stand 19, as indicated in Fig. 1, thus permitting displacement of the detecting mechanism by ,a misplaced shuttle without injury to the detecting mechanism.

I have shown my improved detecting mechanism in connection with an actuator 21 of a usual type. This actuator is normally moved freely about a pivot 22 by a.

plunger 23 which is moved intermittently by driving mechanism not shown. lVhen, however, the free swinging movement of the actuator 21 about the piv0t22 is obstructed, the pivot 22 will be movedto indicate weft exhaustion. Further details of the actuator and its connections may be found in the priorpatent to Ryon No. 972,722, issued October 11, 1910.

A controlling rod or wire 24: (Figs. 1 and 5) is normally positioned in the path of the actuator 21. This rod or wire is preferably U-shaped and has a rearwardly extending lower portion supported on ears 25 formed on the side of the slide 10. The upper part of the wire is slidable in a bearing 19 on the stand 19. At its extreme rear end, the lower portion of the U-shaped wire is up-turned sharply to enter one of a series of holes 26 in the movable detector 12. The rearward movement of the wire 24: is limited by a collilll do .to correspond to the particular conditions lar 27 adjustable thereon, and engaging the bearing 19 and the wire is yieldingly moved rearward by a light spring 28 connected at one end to a notch or bend in the wire 24 and at the opposite end to a fixed stud 29. A

heavier spring 30 connects the forward end .of the slide 10 to a fixed stud 31.

I The general method of operation of the device is sim lar to other doubie-polnt weft detectors and is clearly indicated in Figs. 6 and 7 drawing the wire 24 from the'path of the actuator 21. If, however, an insufficient supply of weft is found on the weft carrler, the detector 21 will rotate freely about its axis as'indicated in Fig. 7, an.d the wire 24. will thus remain in its normal position, in which it is engaged by the actuator 21 which is therefore rendered effective to indicate weft exhaustion.

The wire .24 is of sufficient length and flexibility so that it can be readily withdrawn from one of the holes 26 and inserted in a different hole when it is desired to bring a different face of the detector 12 to operative position. By thus changing the adjustment, the relation between the rear end of the fixed detector 11 and the face of the movable detector may be varied under which the detecting mechanism is operating.

I It will be seen that the parts are of extremely simple construction and that no close or accurate adjustment is necessary.

Having thus described my invention, it will be evident that changes and modifications can be made therein by those skilled in the'art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the claims. Therefore I. do not wish to be otherwise limitedto the details herein disclosed, but what I claimcis 1. In a loom, a weft detector having a plurality of weft-engaging faces, means to hold any selected face in operative position,

and weft-replenishing mechanism controlled by sald detector.

In a loom, amovable support, a detector fixed to said support, a seconddetcctor retatably mountedon said support, an actuator, and connections through which said rotatable detector is effective to control said actuator in any of aplurality of difl'erent angular operative positions of said detector, and means to attach said connections to said rotatable detector at anyone of a plurality of points corresponding to different angularly disposed operative positions of said detector.

8. In a loom, a slide, a detector fixed thereon, a second detector having a plurality of weft-engaging faces and rotatably mounted on said slide, and a memberadapted to be connected to said rotatable detector in any angular operative position thereof.

4:. In a loom, a movable support, a detector fixed to said support, a second detector ro-V tatably mounted on said support, an actuator, and a member connected to said rotatable detector and controlling said actuator, said detector having a plurality of weft engaging faces, and having provision for connection to said member in any one of several different angular operative positions.

5. In a loom, a movable support, a detector fixed to said support, a second detector ro- ,tatably mounted on said support, an actuator, and a member controllingsaid actuator and positioned by said rotatable detector. said rotatable detector having a plurality of weft-engaging faces positioned at different radial distances from the axis thereof and being effective to position said member with any one of said faces in operative position.

6. In a loom, a movable support, a detector fixed to said support, a second detector rotatably mounted on said support, an actuator, and a U-shaped wire controlling said actuator, said rotatable detector being provided with a plurality of 'weft-engaging faces and having means to engage one end of said wire with any selected face in operative position.

"Z. In a 100111, a support, a detector fixed thereon, a second detector pivoted thereto and having a plurality of weft-engaging faces positioned at different distances from its axis and having a transverse hole associated with each'face, a wire slidably mounted on said support and having. one end bent upward and adapted to be inserted in any selected hole. andweft-replenishing mechanism controlled by the longitudinal position of said wire. 7 p

In a loom, a weft detector pivotally mounted and having a plurality of weft engaging faces, and meansto hold 'a selected face thereof in operative position, each face being substantially concentric with the axis of said detector.

In testimony whereof I have hereuntoaffixed my signatiire. 

